"Don't" by Alison Lee

I found this gem on ScaryMommy.com and had to share...

Don’t wish time away.

Don’t miss out on eating dessert for breakfast.

Don’t hold your farts in.

Don’t go to bed angry.

Don’t wake up angry.

Don’t be late.

Don’t be too early. It’s as much an inconvenience as being late.

Don’t be rude to the waiter/ waitress/ barista/ cashier/ cleaning lady.

Don’t cut your own hair.

Don’t talk yourself out of an opportunity to try something new.

Don’t close your heart to kindness.

Don’t shake hands limply.

Don’t talk yourself down.

Don’t pick at pimples.

Don’t be strong all the time.

Don’t worry about the dishes, until you absolutely have to.

Don’t be a jerk when driving.

Don’t ignore your email inbox to the point of having 1,976 unread emails.

Don’t build so many walls that you can’t be reached.

Don’t buy what you can make.

Don’t ignore your instincts.

Don’t worry about singing in the car, just do it.

Don’t tell lies about other people to make yourself look good.

Don’t be lazy. Unless it’s the weekend. Then be lazy.

Don’t be too hard on yourself if you’ve had a bad day with the kids/ failed at your diet. You’re human. Be human.

Don’t slurp your soup.

Don’t judge others. You don’t know their story.

Don’t stick your nose in where it doesn’t belong.

Don’t be afraid of what people think.

Don’t make everything a competition.

Don’t compare.

Don’t say, “I can’t.”

Don’t spend more than you earn.

Don’t buy what you don’t need just because it’s cheap.

Don’t be ashamed to admit you totally rocked to Justin Timberlake’s “I’m Bringing Sexy Back” (what, just me?).

Don’t be afraid to apologize.

Don’t call each other names in a fight. Fight hard, but fight clean.

Don’t neglect books. Read, and read a lot.

Don’t scrimp on a good mattress.

Don’t forget to brush your teeth before you go to bed.

Don’t say no to travel. Seeing the world opens your eyes in surprising ways.

Don’t stalk your ex on Facebook. Just don’t.

Don’t think that the world is against you. Sometimes, it’s just you against you.

Don’t hold onto grudges.

Don’t be afraid to let go of the people who should no longer be in your life.

Don’t forget to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.

Don’t forget to tell your children you love them.

Ultrasounds, consignment sales, and nurseries. Oh, my!

I'm pretty sure I promised you an update on my mid-pregnancy ultrasound, and I'm even more sure that I never followed through, so here it is.  On July 12th, just two days shy of 20 weeks, I had my anatomy scan, which consists of a 30- to 45-minute ultrasound where the technician takes pictures and measurements of the baby to ensure that everything is developing properly and no abnormalities are detected.  Since we declined the early genetic screening, this is where we would find out if there is anything that may be cause for concern.

The fun part is we got to spend 45 minutes watching our little girl fuss and fidget, flex her hand, and grab her toes.  The tech even let us watch for a minute or so as her body bounced with a bout of the hiccups.  I watched the statistics on the screen with each measurement, and every one showed right on schedule, within a day or two.

When I spoke with the doctor's office, they said everything looks good and no abnormalities were detected, however they were unable to get an optimal view of Emma's heart.  I will be going back next week for a follow-up and hopefully she will cooperate so we can get the info we need. 

In the meantime, I have been keeping myself busy shopping and planning the nursery.  We hit up a fun consignment sale, where local families sell their "gently used" items, and got some great deals.  I think Grandma Susan's favorite find was this adorable bassinet to keep at their house for visits.
 

Yesterday I picked up the paint for the nursery and am prepping the room for some new colors!  It's going to be a few weeks before it's complete, but I will post pictures of my progress.  Here's the "before" look:

(Click on the picture to enlarge for a better view)

One last fun share...we had a special moment last night in bed.  (Um...that sounded different in my head.)  I've been feeling Emma move for a few weeks now, albeit very intermittently.  Sometimes throughout the day; sometimes a few days apart.  I had been laying in bed for a few minutes last night when I felt a good, solid THUMP on the inside of my belly.  It was the strangest and most amazing feeling I've ever felt.  Then a few seconds later, THUMP again.  I grabbed Nate's hand and placed it on my lower abdomen, and she gave a kick that could rival Dan Bailey's on a good day!  My favorite pregnancy memory so far!  And the best part is that Nate got to experience it with me.  Pure bliss!

Little Miss...

I belong to the December 2013 community board on BabyCenter.com.  Sometimes it's nice to have a group of gals going through the same stage of pregnancy as I am to bounce ideas off of.  From the very beginning, you can see the topics go through phases:

Phase 1: "BFP!!!"  (big fat positive preggo test)
Phase 2: "Morning sickness???"  (wants people to agree they are or are not experiencing it)
Phase 3: "First ultrasound/heartbeat!!!"  (need I say more?)
Phase 4: "Boy or girl???"
Phase 5: "Names!?"  (usually asking for opinions, but really just looking for approval)
Phases 6-10...I'll keep you posted

Somewhere in between you have the rants about in-laws, the heartbreaking stories of miscarriage, and "let's talk cravings."

So we're at Phase 5 right now...names.  The common theme these days seems to be "unique."  Everyone wants a one-of-a-kind name that ONLY their child will have; no one else in the whole world.  Unfortunately, you then end up with names like Apple, Blu Ivy, and North.  I just don't get it.  I'm certainly not the only Lisa in this world, and, honestly, it hasn't affected my life one bit.

That said, I am now joining that crazy mamas club and making our name announcement before the Duchess of Cambridge decides to go and birth a baby girl and pick the exact name that we thought of first and I be accused of stealing it.  (Most of the time I think I'm pretty rational...then I go and have thoughts like this.)

So, without further ado, it is my pleasure to introduce to you Miss...

Coming up next week: the results of our 20-week anatomy scan!

Future marathoner?

One morning, at 24 years old, I woke up and decided I wanted to complete a marathon.  Later that week I was signed up with Team In Training and preparing for the 2001 Honolulu Marathon.  It was a fantastic experience (one that I highly recommend, by the way).  My training came to a halt in the middle of a 16 mile training run when I first experienced patellar tendinitis, and I was ordered off my feet for the last couple months before the race.  Nevertheless, I showed up at the start line and put one foot in front of the other until I crossed the finish line...7 hours 48 minutes 49 seconds later.  That simultaneous feeling of complete joy and extreme pain will never be duplicated.  It was amazing.

And so my love of endurance events began.

Notice I didn't say my love of running.  Don't get me wrong, I love running.  But it's that sense of accomplishment that really drives my passion.  I only wish I had discovered it earlier in life.

One of the things I hope for my future children is that they will find joy, excitement, and value in athletics.  Whatever sport they choose, I want them to experience all of the benefits that come with it: fun, discipline, pride, teamwork...the list goes on and on.  I don't care what direction they go as long as they find something they love, though I have to admit it would warm my heart to have a running partner in the years to come.

As they say, it's never too young to start, so one day shy of 19 weeks, I took my soon-to-be-baby-girl to her first half marathon (my 16th).  With doctor's permission, I again put one foot in front of the other all the way to the finish line.  It was long and painful (I have the blisters to prove it) and I'm glad it's over, but maybe, just maybe, I lit a little spark in the heart of my (potential) future marathoner!

My friend Allison after finishing her very first half marathon!

One of my favorite things about marathons is the finisher's medal.  Today's disco ball bling did not disappoint!

My first nursery project

Several years ago, I bought a short little wooden stool at an estate sale.  I wasn't really sure what I would do with it, but it was so cute I couldn't pass it up.  Since then, it's been sitting in storage collecting dust, just waiting for a purpose.

As soon as we found out we were having a girl, I knew I wanted to accent the nursery with "Ruby Red Slipper" glittery red on frames, wall hangings, and other decorations here and there around the room.  I had been seeing this Martha Stewart Pomegranate Red Glitter paint on our many trips to Home Depot and thought it would be perfect for what I had in mind.

I bought some red spray paint and pulled out my little stool and went to work.  (Don't worry...I was well ventilated and wore two face masks just in case!)  After the spray paint dried, I began applying the red glitter paint.  Much to my disappointment, even after two coats, it was still just looking like a red stool.

I enlisted my BFF Blackle.com to help me find something that would work and, lo and behold, Krylon makes Glitter Blast Glitter Spray in Cherry Bomb...full coverage and MUCH easier to apply.  I am so happy with my "Ruby Red Slipper" red glittery stool. 

It's not much, but it has lit my fire to get the nursery going.  Plan to really get started in two weeks after our anatomy scan and confirmation that our little girl is growing healthy and strong.

Speaking of strong...been feeling movement all week!  And the last two days, she hasn't seemed to sleep much.  Moving and bumping around from morning till night.  So much fun!

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Well, that sure didn't take long.  One comment, one right answer.  And yay for JJ Smartypants because I'm not really sure I could have kept it in all week.  In case you haven't figured it out yet, here it is:

I am in love with over-the-belly maternity pants.
The theme for our nursery is Wizard of Oz.
Sweets...I can't get enough of 'em.
Anyone wanna take a guess at the gender?
Getting ready for a new baby is a lot of work!
I know more than I ever wanted to about strollers.
Right now I am 17 weeks pregnant.
Lexi Lou is very excited to be a big sister!

We had a 3D/4D ultrasound yesterday and the little stinker was playing so coy.  She kept her hands up in her face nearly the whole time and when I shifted positions to get a better look, she flipped right over and showed us her backside.  Tried to pep her up with a Dr. Pepper, but our stubborn little girl wasn't doing any tricks this time around.  Maybe she was sleepy, or maybe she'll have her Aunt Stacey's temperament.  Can't wait to find out!

A little game for you

You all know how much I love brainteasers, so I thought I would make one up just for you.

Below are eight sentences.  Hidden amongst them is a very special message.  Get your creative thinking caps on and maybe you'll figure it out.  If you think you know the answer, post it in the comments.  If someone guesses it correctly, I'll let you know right away.  If not, I will reveal the answer on Friday.  

Here goes...

I am in love with over-the-belly maternity pants.
The theme for our nursery is Wizard of Oz.
Sweets...I can't get enough of 'em.
Anyone wanna take a guess at the gender?
Getting ready for a new baby is a lot of work!
I know more than I ever wanted to about strollers.
Right now I am 17 weeks pregnant.
Lexi Lou is very excited to be a big sister!

Good luck!  Looking forward to the comments...